Latest news with #OccupiedTerritoriesBill
Extra.ie
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Irish musician stops hunger strike for Gaza on seventh day
An Irish musician who was on hunger strike for Gaza has stopped the strike after seven days to allow her health to recover after developing new symptoms. Sophie Ní Choimín, 27, previously revealed she had been experiencing coughing, dizziness, body pain and hunger pains. The Kildare woman is the lead singer of Galway band Kettle Boilers, who have been fundraising for Palestine over the last year. An Irish musician who was on hunger strike for Gaza has stopped the strike after seven days to allow her health to recover after developing new symptoms. Pic: Sophie Ní Choimín/ Instagram Sophie began her hunger strike on Wednesday, May 21, as she demanded that the Government enact the Occupied Territories Bill. On Wednesday (May 28), the musician took to Instagram, confirming she would be stopping her hunger strike from midnight due to the development of more recent symptoms. She said: 'The fight for international justice and morality continues and was always way bigger than me anyway, I only hope that I can recover quickly so that I may rejoin it asap [as soon as possible]. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cvntaois (@cvntaois) 'My commitment to myself was that I would take this action to put maximum pressure on the government — for as long as my health would allow it. My commitment to my family was that I would not put them through any more hurt than was completely necessary. I owe them a great debt for their trust in me.' The singer added that she had 'hoped' the government would take 'long-awaited action to end Ireland's ongoing complicity in genocide.' Sophie added that she will be offline for a period as she recuperates following her hunger strike, noting that she doesn't think she would be able to get better 'while continuing to watch this genocide daily.' 'I will be back, and I will watch, and I will act,' she pledged. 'My solace comes from knowing there are so many of you to keep the fight going until I am back. Thank you for your emails, actions, and demonstrations. 'It disturbs me deeply to know that the current government would rather let any of us starve ourselves on a diet of salt and water before they would consider even hearing our political grievances.'
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Displacement orders are 'entirely erasing Gaza', Oxfam warns
Mass displacement at the hands of Israel is 'entirely erasing Gaza' as the raging war now enters 600 days, charity Oxfam has warned. Since the breaking of the ceasefire, Israel has issued 30 forced displacement orders and are pushing people into isolated areas, according to Oxfam. A new analysis by Ofxam found that 'since breaking the ceasefire on March 18, Israel has issued over 30 forced displacement orders, covering a swathe of 68 out of 79 neighbourhoods'. These, along with the expanding 'no-go' Israeli military zones, make up over 80% of the Gaza Strip. This has resulted in the starving of a population who are unable to find refuge, said Oxfam. Oxfam Ireland CEO Jim Clarken said: 'Israel's plan to confine civilians in militarised 'humanitarian' zones under armed guard, while displacing hundreds of thousands through relentless bombardment, is a grotesque violation of humanitarian principles. In any other conflict, civilians have a route to safety. Palestinians are being caged, corralled, and shoved towards the coastline with nowhere to run. 'This is not humanitarian aid — it is forced internment, and the international community must not continue to ignore such blatant war crimes.' He described how more than 160,000 people have been uprooted from their home which is part of the 600,000 who have been forcibly displaced since March. 'This is a deliberate strategy' said Mr Clarken. 'Ireland has its role to play – the Occupied Territories Bill, despite only affecting the West Bank — needs to include a ban on the trading of services as well as goods. Other nations are watching the progression of this legislation, and we must do it justice. "Irish MEPs must continue to push for the suspension, not simply a review, of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. We commend our Irish parliamentarians for fighting for justice — but actions mean everything at this crucial moment in time for the survival of Palestinian people.' Fidaa Alaraj — Oxfam's gender advisor in Gaza who has been displaced with her family several times, said: 'Imagine trying to move with four children or an elderly parent in the middle of the night, with no transport and nowhere to go. People are so exhausted, many would rather face death than flee again.' Read More Independent TDs vote against Government to back Sinn Féin bill on Israeli government bonds
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Clash in Dáil over bill to ban purchase of Israeli bonds
The Taoiseach and Sinn Féin leader have clashed over a bill which would ban the Central Bank from purchasing Israeli bonds. Sinn Féin had brought a bill to the Dáil on Tuesday, with the debate interrupted as one man was arrested during a protest in the Dáil visitors' gallery. Finance minister Paschal Donohoe had been speaking when the large group began to chant, wave signs and flags, and bang on the safety glass. Leinster House ushers were joined by gardaí as they attempted to clear the group who chanted "shame", "stop the genocide" and "free free Palestine". The disruption lasted several minutes with one man being arrested. The group continued their protest outside the gates of Leinster House. Speaking during Wednesday's Leaders' Questions in the Dáil, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the Finance Minister's speech was "shameful" and "gave the water-weak mealy-mouthed and baseless excuses for the Government's opposition to the legislation". "The Minister stated that he is advised that the Bill might be judged inconsistent with EU law. That is bogus. We have over 20 pages of independent robust legal opinion clearly stating that the Bill is compliant with Irish law, European law and international law," she added. The Minister should know that Ireland is fully entitled under EU law to unilaterally restrict access to our financial services and that we are legally entitled to make that decision on public-policy grounds, including pursuing our international law obligations. So Government has no sound legal advice on these matters. "The Government's reasons for opposing the Bill are exposed as bluff. The emperor has no clothes. It is precisely the tactic the Taoiseach has used to delay and hollow out the Occupied Territories Bill." In response, Taoiseach Micheál Martin accused Sinn Féin of "trying to drive a wedge" and of "bandying" words "such as facilitate and complicit in genocide which are false". "The latest now is this issue in terms of the Central Bank's role in issuing prospectuses. The Deputy and I know that the Central Bank does not approve and does not issue or sell, or oversee the sale of, Israeli bonds. The Deputy knows that, but the truth does not matter in the situation." The clashes followed a debate on a Labour motion calling for Ireland to push for an emergency session of the UN General Assembly and to establish a peacekeeping force in Gaza. In response to that motion, Tánaiste Simon Harris said he considered the request for a UN session "to be a constructive request". He said a mechanism called the Uniting For Peace resolution to which the Labour motion refers to, dates from the time of the Korean War in 1950. "The reality is that only once, in 70 years, back in 1956, has the resolution been used to establish a peacekeeping force. This was under very specific circumstances at the time, in which all the parties and the key members of the Security Council were in agreement. Sadly, similar circumstances do not exist today." Read More Tánaiste urges other countries to recognise Palestine as a state
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Ireland wants expansion of the definition of genocide under the Geneva Convention, says Taoiseach
The Israeli Government, with its 'far-right elements', is "committing genocide in Gaza right now," Micheál Martin said. Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik echoed: "It is genocide." She acknowledged, on the first anniversary of Ireland recognising the state of Palestine, that the Government has led on the issue. The Taoiseach said Ireland, Spain and Norway had initiated recognition, followed by Slovenia, in partnership with the Arab states. But he admitted that Ireland has failed to persuade many other countries that it targeted diplomatically to join the recognition initiative. "We tried to get as many countries as we possibly could on board, and to persuade as many other EU member states ass possible," Mr Martin said. "We didn't get as many as we wanted at the time." It is understood that Ireland believed it had commitments from more than twice as many countries as finally signed up, only for the numbers to wither away. The Taoiseach added: "We're hoping that we will broaden the criteria by which Genocide is judged by the Geneva Convention." Some countries have been claiming that Israel's "slaughter" of Palestinians, as Mr Martin put it, does not constitute genocide, which means a policy of deliberate attempted extermination of an entire people. He stressed that Ireland was also progressing the Occupied Territories Bill, but said that the Opposition, when it was passed, would say that it is "only symbolic" and more should be done. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more The stand-in leader of the Social Democrats, Cian O'Callaghan, said Gaza was being "methodically and systematically erased by Israel in its systematic campaign, without restriction'. The Social Democrats has suspended one of its members, Eoin Hayes TD, who profited from the sale of shares in a company whose products have bene used by the Israeli army to better target Palestinians. Mr Hayes did not tell the truth to his colleagues or the media about his holding. Mr Martin dismissed claims from the Social Democrats and Sinn Féin that the Irish Central Bank was facilitating the sale of Israeli "war bonds", and should be prevented from doing so. The Central Bank is part of the European Central; Bank, he said, "and is independent of Government too, by the way". "They don't sell Israeli bonds." The Central Bank instead "approves the prospectus" for the sale of the bonds, as it is required to do, he said. "The Irish Central Bank is not approving anything." The Taoiseach said suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement would be "a powerful message to Israel".
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Irish Government must act to get essential aid to Gaza'
Today in the Dail, the Labour Party will ask the Government to use every lever at its disposal to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza through a UN-mandated peacekeeping force. More than 55,000 people – including 15,000 children – have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, and a further 290,000 children are on the brink of death. Words fail to describe the wickedness of using starvation as a weapon of war against children. But that is what's happening in Gaza as Israel continues to inflict unthinkable horror on the people of Palestine. History will remember our actions, not our words. The Labour Party is calling on Fine Gael and Fianna Fail to do more, to stand with Palestinian children and civilians. It is our moral obligation to raise the plight of the Palestinian people to the United Nations to pave the way for peace. To pave the way for the violence to end. To pave the way for a ceasefire for Palestine. If the Government accepts our proposals, it will be forced to table an emergency resolution at the UN General Assembly, noting the failure of the Security Council to protect the people of Gaza and calling for collective measures to stop the genocidal campaign of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. The devastation in Gaza is the ultimate test for the UN Security Council. Unfortunately, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail's bone fides when it comes to acting for Gaza have been massively eroded over the past six months. In the context of the general election campaign, both parties promised on national televised debates they would enact the Occupied Territories Bill if elected. Yet six months on and only now is the Tanaiste belatedly seeking to act. The Opposition is gifting the Government the opportunity to be a global leader, so Ireland will be remembered in the history books as a nation that acted for the right of Palestinian people to exist. I hope the opportunity is taken.
